Switch-block for trolley-tracks.



No. 836,042. I PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

R. JOHNSTON.

SWITCH BLOCK FOR TROLLEY TRACKS- APPLICATION rum MAR. 5, 1906.

ROBERT JOHNSTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-BLOCK FOR TROLLEY-TRACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed March 5,1906. Serial No. 304,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Switch-Block forTrolley-Tracks, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exactdescription as will enable others skilled in the art to whichitappertains to make and use my said invention.

This invention relates to improvements in switches for overhead-trolleytracks.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a switch-block of improvedconstruction adapted to prevent cars from running off the track andeasily attachable to and usable with trolley-tracks as now ordinarilyconstructed.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction andcombinations of parts shown in the annexed drawings, to which referenceis hereby made, and hereinafter particularly described, and finallyrecited in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan, viewed from below, of atrolley-track provided with an oscillating switch-tongue and equippedwith switch-blocks. Fig. 2 is a plan, viewed from below, oftrolley-tracks and a turn-table equipped with switch-blocks. Fig. 3 isan enlarged vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is anisometric projection of a segmental switch-block usable in connectionwith an oscillating switchtongue, and Fig. 5 is an isometric projectionof a semicircular switch-block adapted for use in connection with atrack-section on a turn-table.

The tracks consist of a suitable number of cast-iron sections 1, havinglongitudinal channels 1 in which the trolley-wheels run. Thetrack-sections are secured on suitable stationary supports with the endsof the sections abutting against each other in a manner well known inthe art. The trolley 52 travels in the channels 1, as clearly shown inFig. 3. In case the switch-blocks are used in connection with anoscillating switchtongue one of the track-secti0ns will be mounted toturn on a fixed pivot 41, and a segmental plate 3 will be secured byrivets 3 or equivalent securing devices to the top of the oscillativetrack-section. The switchblock usable with the oscillating switchtonguehas a straight member 5, which lies alongside the track-section 1, andan integral curved member 5 which extends downward across the adjacentends of the track section or sections with which the oscillatingswitchtongue cooperates. It also has lugs 5 pierced by holes 5, whichreceive bolts 6, connecting the blocks with the plate 3. The members 5fit closely against the track-section 1 and prevent turning or lateralmovement of the blocks. The edge of the plate 3 at the free end of thetrack-section is a segment of a circle and projects somewhat over theadjacent parts of the cooperating track-sections and serves to supportthe free end of the oscillating or rotating track-section, as the casemay be. The members 5 are segments of a circle of less radius than thatof the plate 3.

In the modified form of the device (shown in Figs. 2 and 5) thebase-plate 3 is circular instead of segmental and is secured to thetrack-section in the manner already described. The switch-blocks aresemicircular in form, and the straight member 5 fits alongside thetrack-section 1, and the curved member 5 is of less diameter than theplate 3, but otherwise conforms to half the circumference of thebase-plate 3.

In assembling the parts the plate 3seg mental or circular, as the casemay beis secured on the track-section. The blocks are placed on thetrack-section with the member 5 abutting against the side of thetrack-section and are secured by the bolts 6. When the parts are thusassembled, the members Wlll extend downward and lie across the ends ofall of the tracks except the one track in use and close the tracks whichare in disuse, so that the trolley cannot run off those tracks.

A special practical advantage of the device herein set forth is that itmay be attached to trolley-tracks now in common use without materialchange of the tracks and without changing the stationary support for thetracks.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a turnable track member, a plate secured on andextending beyond said turnable track member, blocks having straightmembers lying alongside the turnable track member and having integralcurved members conforming to the circle in bers adapted to lie acrossthe ends of the which the track member turns and means for I stationarytrack members which are in dissecuring said blocks on said plate. use.

2. The combination of stationary track In witness whereof I havehereunto sub- 5' members, a turnable track member adapted scribed myname, at Springfield, Illinois, this 15 to match the stationary trackmembers re- 5th day of February, 1906.

I spectively, a plate secured on the turnable ROBERT JOHNSTON. trackmember and overlapping the adjacent Witnesses:

parts of the stationary track members and J. ERNEST CALDWELL, 10 lookssecured on said plate and havingmem O. D. DU BoIs.

